David Beckham's #128million dream move to America is rapidly turning into a nightmare for England.

Seven months ago, Beckham took the biggest gamble of his professional life by signing a mega five-year deal with LA Galaxy because he believed his international career was over.

Now, having staged a remarkable comeback for Real Madrid and England, Becks is paying a heavy price for trying to sell soccer to the US.

He admits that his latest setback - a serious knee injury to add to on-going ankle problems - may be his body's way of telling him that he needs a rest after clocking up more air miles than Alan Whicker. "I went into a tackle a little light because of my ankle and tried to compensate for that," admitted Beckham, 32.

"I'd have been better off not doing it at all. It's just gone from one thing to another thing. Maybe it is a sign to give it a rest, get it right and not come back until it is right.

"At this stage it's hard to tell, but it doesn't feel good. A ligament strain is four to six weeks but we'll have to wait for the results of the scan tomorrow. If it is four to six, I won't be flying to England."

Today national boss Steve McClaren names his squad for the make-or-break Euro qualifiers against Israel and Russia in September, having already resigned himself to being without Beckham.

The midfielder, who has 96 caps, could also miss most of the remainder of the US season. So if injury doesn't keep him out of the two qualifiers in October with Estonia and Russia, his match fitness will certainly be in doubt.

The final group match with Croatia is on November 21 but by that time England's campaign could be over anyway and Beckham would be agonisingly short of fulfilling his dream of reaching 100 caps. With Kieron Dyer facing a long spell out with a fractured leg, and doubts over the recovery of Steven Gerrard's broken toe and Aaron Lennon's knee injury, Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips is favourite to play on the right.

Although Lennon hopes to make his comeback tomorrow, Blackburn's David Bentley could also be quickly welcomed into the fold. He was overlooked for the Germany friendly as punishment for pulling out of the Euro Under-21 championship finals in the summer.

Gerrard is desperate to play against Israel and has told the FA and Liverpool medical staff that he will willingly have a pain-killing injection to allow him to turn out at Wembley tomorrow week.

However, Anfield boss Rafa Benitez said: "The news was not very positive. It will be difficult for him to play against Derby on Saturday.

"The doctor will continue to look at him, but maybe this weekend is too early for him."